Fwd: Request for Participation in Interfaith Service of Remembrance and Hope for Health Care Reform

[Seth Josephson]

Another note about the "Interfaith Service of Remembrance and Hope for Health Care Reform". 

They really need Buddhist people to fill a symbolic role in this ceremony. I am open to doing it Monday but have not yet responded to Rev. Rivers. Is there anyone else who could help?

-Seth

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Alicia Rivers <rive...@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 9:17 PM
Subject: Request for Participation in Interfaith Service of Remembrance and Hope for Health Care Reform
To: Seth Josephson <seth.jo...@gmail.com>

Seth, Kathy Wesley sent me your contact information. I apologize for the last-minute nature of this contact and request. The resources for this  service of remembrance on behalf of health care reform were only published a week ago, and it took me awhile to reach Kathy with my request for Buddhist participation in the service.  The service is structured around the reality that every 12 minutes in the US, someone dies because they have inadequate health insurance, or none. So during the hour we're gathered for this service, five more people will die. Five stories of people who have died this past year will be read, one each couched in a reflection from the perspective of a different faith tradition. We're very much hoping to have readers for the reflection from the Buddhist tradition.  I've attached the script for the reflection that was provided by the resource organization Faithful Reform in Health Care, an interfaith organization based in Cleveland. As you can see, there are roles for three readers, with the second and third also participating in visual actions to symbolize remembrance and hope. You would be free to change the wording of the reflection, so long as the time frame for the reflection is strictly maintained. I'm hoping you can help us locate three readers. Your personal participation would certainly be welcomed as Lead Reader for the group, if you could join us.  If you're able to work out arrangements given the short deadline, please let me know right away.  I will need names and any other identifying information you wish to have printed in the order of service for the three readers of each group.  I expect to provide more information for each group's leader--but at least the particular group affiliation of the other two readers, as well. I've also attached masters for a flier and handbill if you have occasion to distribute information about the service over the weekend. A brief description of the background of the service is provided to print on the back of the flier or handbill if you wish. And finally, I've attached information in outline form on the structure and content of the service, considerations for the reflection text, and personnel needs. I hope you'll judge this to be a worthwhile effort. If you're able to find participants, please have them come to the sanctuary of Broad Street United Methodist Church (across from the Columbus Art Museum), at 6:00 pm to go over the service.  We will need to practice getting people situated in the spaces where they'll be speaking, changing over from one group to the next, carrying out the symbolic visual actions, etc. I hope to hear from you soon. In anticipation, (Rev.) Alicia Rivers